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GB2293079A - Computer graphics system having high performance multiple layer z-buffer - Google Patents

Computer graphics system having high performance multiple layer z-buffer

Info

Publication number
GB2293079A
GB2293079A GB9522916A GB9522916A GB2293079A GB 2293079 A GB2293079 A GB 2293079A GB 9522916 A GB9522916 A GB 9522916A GB 9522916 A GB9522916 A GB 9522916A GB 2293079 A GB2293079 A GB 2293079A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
buffer
data
layers
stored
register
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9522916A
Other versions
GB9522916D0 (en
GB2293079B (en
Inventor
Stephanie L Winner
Michael W Kelley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Apple Inc
Original Assignee
Apple Computer Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Apple Computer Inc filed Critical Apple Computer Inc
Publication of GB9522916D0 publication Critical patent/GB9522916D0/en
Publication of GB2293079A publication Critical patent/GB2293079A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2293079B publication Critical patent/GB2293079B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
    • G06T15/00—3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
    • G06T15/10—Geometric effects
    • G06T15/40—Hidden part removal
    • G06T15/405—Hidden part removal using Z-buffer

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Computer Graphics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Image Generation (AREA)
  • Digital Computer Display Output (AREA)

Abstract

A computer graphics system having a processor for generating objects for display, a multi-layered Z-buffer for storing data according to their relative depths, the processor also compositing the data stored in the Z-buffer, a frame buffer for storing composited data, a display for displaying an image as a number of pixels responsive to the composited data in the frame buffer, and two registers for facilitating the Z-buffering process is disclosed. One of the registers stores a number indicating how many of the layers in the Z-buffer contain visible data dependent on opacity of existing objects. In the other register, a number of addresses corresponding to each of the layers of the Z-buffer are stored. Each address specifies a location where data of one of the layers is stored. A determination is made as to which layer data associated with an incoming object is to be inserted. This determination depends on the contents of the first register as well as the value of the incoming object relative to those of objects already stored in the Z-buffer. The addresses of the second register are arranged to correspond to the appropriate layers in response to insertion of the incoming data. <IMAGE>
GB9522916A 1993-05-10 1994-05-06 Computer graphics system having high performance multiple layer z-buffer Expired - Lifetime GB2293079B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6029993A 1993-05-10 1993-05-10
PCT/US1994/004993 WO1994027240A1 (en) 1993-05-10 1994-05-06 Computer graphics system having high performance multiple layer z-buffer

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9522916D0 GB9522916D0 (en) 1996-01-10
GB2293079A true GB2293079A (en) 1996-03-13
GB2293079B GB2293079B (en) 1997-07-02

Family

ID=22028631

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9522916A Expired - Lifetime GB2293079B (en) 1993-05-10 1994-05-06 Computer graphics system having high performance multiple layer z-buffer

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5920687A (en)
JP (1) JP3557208B2 (en)
AU (1) AU6783594A (en)
GB (1) GB2293079B (en)
WO (1) WO1994027240A1 (en)

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GB2351892A (en) * 1999-01-11 2001-01-10 Evans & Sutherland Computer Co Span-based multi-sample Z-buffer pixel processing
US9641826B1 (en) 2011-10-06 2017-05-02 Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation System and method for displaying distant 3-D stereo on a dome surface

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US6456285B2 (en) * 1998-05-06 2002-09-24 Microsoft Corporation Occlusion culling for complex transparent scenes in computer generated graphics
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AU780003B2 (en) * 2000-03-30 2005-02-24 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Optimising pixel generation from compositing stack
AUPR100600A0 (en) * 2000-10-25 2000-11-16 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited Gaming graphics
AU782744B2 (en) * 2000-10-25 2005-08-25 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited Gaming graphics
US6636212B1 (en) 2000-11-14 2003-10-21 Nvidia Corporation Method and apparatus for determining visibility of groups of pixels
US6989840B1 (en) * 2001-08-31 2006-01-24 Nvidia Corporation Order-independent transparency rendering system and method
US7043701B2 (en) * 2002-01-07 2006-05-09 Xerox Corporation Opacity desktop with depth perception
US7113183B1 (en) 2002-04-25 2006-09-26 Anark Corporation Methods and systems for real-time, interactive image composition
US8006196B2 (en) 2004-09-10 2011-08-23 Presagis Multi-application graphic display environment
US7688319B2 (en) * 2005-11-09 2010-03-30 Adobe Systems, Incorporated Method and apparatus for rendering semi-transparent surfaces
US7891818B2 (en) 2006-12-12 2011-02-22 Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation System and method for aligning RGB light in a single modulator projector
US8358317B2 (en) 2008-05-23 2013-01-22 Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation System and method for displaying a planar image on a curved surface
US8702248B1 (en) 2008-06-11 2014-04-22 Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation Projection method for reducing interpixel gaps on a viewing surface
US8077378B1 (en) 2008-11-12 2011-12-13 Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation Calibration system and method for light modulation device

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2351892A (en) * 1999-01-11 2001-01-10 Evans & Sutherland Computer Co Span-based multi-sample Z-buffer pixel processing
US6404425B1 (en) 1999-01-11 2002-06-11 Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation Span-based multi-sample z-buffer pixel processor
US9641826B1 (en) 2011-10-06 2017-05-02 Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation System and method for displaying distant 3-D stereo on a dome surface
US10110876B1 (en) 2011-10-06 2018-10-23 Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation System and method for displaying images in 3-D stereo

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH09500462A (en) 1997-01-14
GB9522916D0 (en) 1996-01-10
JP3557208B2 (en) 2004-08-25
AU6783594A (en) 1994-12-12
WO1994027240A1 (en) 1994-11-24
US5920687A (en) 1999-07-06
GB2293079B (en) 1997-07-02

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PE20 Patent expired after termination of 20 years

Expiry date: 20140505